Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Subcommittee
The Military and Veterans Suicide Prevention Subcommittee’s mission is to promote emotional well-being within the greater military community and provide mental health education and suicide awareness.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsors!
Thank you to our sponsors for making the upcoming Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit possible!
Rock Harbor Foundation • The Wilmington VAMC • Dover Behavioral Health • Rockford Center • SUN Behavioral • Acadia Healthcare / Military Family Support Services • Banyan Treatment Centers • The WAWA Foundation • Recovery Centers of America •Ashley Treatment Centers • Keystone Center • NET Centers • Advanced Recovery Systems • Mental Health Association in Delaware
2023 Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit
On Tuesday, September 12th, 2023, the annual Military & Veterans Mental Health Summit was held at the Riverfront Events Center in Wilmington, DE. Over 150 veterans, providers and community members gathered to learn more about substance use and its impact on the military community. Dr. Jessica Martin from the Oklahoma City VA delivered the keynote address titled “SUD Treatment Implications amongst Veteran Populations with Co-Occurring Disorders”. Chaplain Van Alstyne; Anthony “Joey” Damiano, LCSW, CPRP; Dr. Dan Lache; and Michael Skiles discussed during the “Maintaining Hope Through Treatment” panel session, in which they explored a holistic approach to substance use recovery. And lastly, Michael Skiles gave the “Hear from a Veteran” presentation.
2022 Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference
On Wednesday, September 7th, 2022, the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition’s Military Subcommittee hosted the 2022 Military & Veterans Suicide Prevention Conference. The conference was held at the Delaware National Guard training site in Bethany Beach, Delaware. The Adjutant General, Major General Michael R. Berry, and Vince Kane of the Wilmington VAMC provided opening remarks. The half-day conference covered topics such as: Suicide Prevention 2.0 (VA updates on suicide prevention), the Governor’s Challenge, 988, and the VA’s suicide prevention training – S.A.V.E. Thank you to our presenters Jaclyn Tomasetti, Matthew Jacobs and Dr. Claire Wang. Jessica Lewis led the group in a Tai Chi demonstration.
2020 Military & Veterans
Mental Health Summit
In 2020, the Military and Veterans Mental Health Summit was held virtually from August 31st to September 4th, 2020. The summit kicked off with opening remarks from Vincent Kane, the Director of the Wilmington VAMC; Dr. Larence Kirby, LPCMH, the Director of the Delaware Office of Veteran Services; Col. Shanon Anderson, the Vice Wing Commander at the Dover Air Force Base; and Bethany Hall-Long, the Lieutenant Governor. Then, Dr. Larence Kirby, LPCMH delivered the keynote titled “Veterans Perceptions of Behavioral Health Services”. Following the keynote were four presentations: Michael Selby’s “Virtual Resources and Telehealth”; Nancy McGee & Lauren Unrath’s "Suicide Prevention, Intervention, and the Crisis Hotline”; Susana Cebula’s “Personal Self-Care”; and Dr. Craig W. Gilbert’s “Cognitive Approach to Resiliency”.